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Two police officers shot dead before suspect turns gun on himself in south Texas border town

A McAllen police officer after two colleagues were shot dead: The Monitor via AP
A McAllen police officer after two colleagues were shot dead: The Monitor via AP

Two police officers have been shot dead by a suspected gunman who then committed suicide in a Texas town on the Mexican border.

McAllen police officers Edelmiro Garza, 45, and Ismael Chavez, 39 were killed after responding to reports of assaults in a home in the south of the town.

The suspect, who was identified as Audon Ignacio Camarillo, 23, opened fire when they entered the house.

McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez said: "We have lost two brave public servants who sought only to keep peace in our city.

McAllen police chief Rodriguez after two of the town's officers were shot dead (The Monitor via AP)
McAllen police chief Rodriguez after two of the town's officers were shot dead (The Monitor via AP)

"They were doing their job. That is what they were supposed to do. The person was a suspect of the incident, met our officers at the door, and shot at both officers," Mr Rodriguez told the McAllen Monitor.

He added: "Both officers suffered fatal wounds, they have both passed away as a result. The officers never had a chance to suspect deadly assault on them, much less death."

Mr Garza had been with the McAllen police department for more than eight years while Mr Chavez had over two years' experience.

The suspect hid behind a car when other officers arrived at the scene before turning the gun on himself, Mr Rodriguez said.

Police officers in McAllen, Texas console each other after two colleagues were shot dead (The Monitor via AP)
Police officers in McAllen, Texas console each other after two colleagues were shot dead (The Monitor via AP)

Camarillo had been arrested several times since 2016, with his most recent run-in with officers coming in June for assault.

No other details on the domestic disturbance that Mr Garza and Mr Chavez were investigating have been revealed yet.

Mr Rodriguez went on: “The next few days for us, moving forward as well, will be very, very difficult, for ourselves at the department and at the city of McAllen, but our strength will get us through.

“We gather our strength from our police officers, and we gather our strengths from our colleagues, as you can see here.”

Officers salute after the death of two colleagues in McAllen, Texas (The Monitor via AP)
Officers salute after the death of two colleagues in McAllen, Texas (The Monitor via AP)

Texas Governor Greg Abbott spoke with Mr Rodriguez to offer the full backing of the state.

He wrote on Twitter: “Two of our finest were killed in the line of duty while working to protect residents in their community. We unite to #BackTheBlue.”

Lieutenant Christopher Olivarez, spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), said it was among the agencies assisting McAllen police on Saturday.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton tweeted that his office will provide McAllen police officers with any help they need.

An officer consoles a mourner after the death of two McAllen police officers (The Monitor via AP)
An officer consoles a mourner after the death of two McAllen police officers (The Monitor via AP)

“Our prayers and full support are with the valiant men and women of the #CityofMcAllen PD this evening,” the tweet read. “We are grateful for police in McAllen and around this great state.”

US Representative Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen said in a statement that hearing of the two officers’ deaths was “devastating”.

“This is devastating news to our community. My heart breaks for these fallen officers and their families,” he said. “They served McAllen bravely and honourably and I will keep them in my prayers.”

Mr Rodriguez said that while the police are “weakened for the moment”, he expects officers to persevere.

“The strength and the resolve we have to serve our communities, all of us here, will allow us to do what we do every day,” he said.

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